Lizzie PopeDigital Editor

The covers have been pulled off the new VW Tiguan at the Frankfurt Motor Show but, asks Lizzie Pope, will it be the great all-rounder its predecessor was?

VW claims that both cabin and cargo room will be more generous than in the first-gen Tiguan

It was with a heavy heart that we waved farewell to our long-term Volkswagen Tiguan. Some members of our long-term fleet divide opinion in the Practical Caravan team, but not our ‘Tiggy’. Whether towing or driving solo, it received a universal thumbs up and as its time with us drew to an end, everyone was sad to see such a capable and, frankly, excellent tow car drive into the sunset.

So when Volkswagen revealed its all-new Tiguan at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, our interest was piqued.

Due in the UK towards the end of this year, details of the second-generation VW Tiguan are scant. Unsurprisingly, Volkswagen is keen to shout that the new model will be lighter and more efficient than before. As every caravanner knows, the former isn’t always great news when it comes to outfit matching, but with no data available, we’ll have to leave a debate about that to another time.

Moving on to the latter, and improved efficiency means cost savings every time you drive, something few will disagree with. We’re told that eight engines will be available, with outputs of between 115PS/113bhp and 240PS/237bhp, bringing more power in tandem with up to 24% better fuel economy. Again, at this stage, VW has not released any figures, but those aren’t improvements to be sniffed at. It’s also worth adding that there will be a 218PS/215bhp plug-in hybrid version on the way, too.

Caravanners will doubtless be interested in the new Tiguan’s updated all-wheel drive system which, says the manufacturer, allows drivers to have greater control of it to better suit all driving situations. It’s also notable that in this first tranche of information, Volkswagen has chosen to state explicitly that “the Tiguan has been engineered for trailer loads of up to 2500kg”. Of course, this is a figure that will mean more in context, once kerbweights and towball limits have been published, but it is encouraging nonetheless.

Other snippets of information that hold promise for caravanners concern the space offered inside the new Tiguan. As is the norm at car launches, VW is keen to convey the sporty credentials and appeal of its new model, despite the fact it’s an SUV and not a supercar, yet we’re delighted to read that this will not come at the expense of space.

VW claims that both cabin and cargo room will be more generous than in the first-gen Tiguan, even going as far as saying it’s taken “a gigantic leap forward”. This remains to be seen, but what figures we have look good. We’re told that when loaded to the back of the rear bench, boot capacity will be 615 litres, this rising to 1655 litres when the rear seats are folded down, a healthy increase of 145 litres.

Finally, as we’d expect from this Wolfsburg-based marque, safety kit is not in short supply. Indeed, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, Lane Assist and Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring will all be fitted as standard.

So, yes, information is thin on the ground, but we think we’ve every reason to be excited about the new VW Tiguan – and it’s not a bad-looking car either, is it? We look forward to putting it through its paces on road and track to determine what tow car ability it has. Let’s hope it can charm us as much as its predecessor did.